Verse 18.51
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च | शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ||५१||
Transliteration (IAST)
buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto dhṛtyātmānaṁ niyamya ca | śabdādīn viṣayāṁs tyaktvā rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca ||51||
Word-by-Word Meanings
buddhyā-with the intellect
viśuddhayā-purified
yuktaḥ-endowed/engaged
dhṛtyā-with determination
ātmānam-the self
niyamya-controlling
viṣayān-sense objects
rāga-dveṣau-attachment and aversion
Translation
Endowed with a purified intellect, controlling the self with firmness, relinquishing sound and other sense objects, and casting aside attachment and aversion -
Commentary
This verse begins a description spanning three verses (51-53) of the qualities needed for Brahman-realization. Shankaracharya explains that 'purified intellect' means one that has been cleansed through karma yoga and is now fit for jnana. The abandonment of sense objects here is internal detachment, not necessarily physical withdrawal.
Themes
jnanayogamoksha